VPNs have become an important tool for individuals to protect their data online due to the prevalence of shared networks. Whether it’s an airport hotspot, the local password-protected coffee shop Wi-Fi, or a wired connection at your job, shared networks mean shared data access. Ultimately any information transmitted during your online session could be vulnerable to eavesdropping by strangers using the same network.

Another major reason to use a VPN is to conceal your internet traffic from your mobile carrier, ISP, or broadband provider. No longer is “I have nothing to hide” is a sound argument against privacy. When the entities who provide internet access exploit their position by selling personal information and activity habits, it’s time to reclaim control of what happens with your data.